This weekend, one of the hottest of the year, families gathered at Flatford for a RSPB Big Wild Sleepout event. Arriving on Saturday afternoon, children joined in first with activities under the shade of the gazebos, including making a souvenir pendant, creating a clay animal or playing in the mud kitchen. Once the tents were all put up in the field, families gathered in Flatford Wildlife Garden to cook their evening meals, while RSPB staff set up the moth trap for the night. Whilst in the garden, children found out a lot about barn owls, with a trail of questions and owl pellet dissection to keep them busy.
Owl pellet dissection at the Big Wild Sleepout
Photo: volunteer's own
Then it was back to the field for some fantastic wildlife themed storytelling with one of the volunteers. The children were then treated to a delicious chocolate fondue, replacing the campfire due to the risk of fire.
As the heat of the day began to fade, everyone gathered excitedly for a bat walk. Crossing the river, the bat detector soon alerted everyone to the presence of several bats circling above.
Crossing the River Stour at dusk on the evening walk led by an RSPB guide
Darkness was falling as everyone returned to the field for some stargazing at the top of the hill before bed. And what a night for it! Not only a clear starlit sky, but also a stunning rising red moon and the Perseid meteor shower. The children were lucky to all see an impressive meteor almost straightaway – for many it was their first ever sighting of a 'shooting star'.
After a good night’s sleep, everyone gathered again in the garden for a lovely continental breakfast before viewing the contents of the moth trap. RSPB staff and volunteers were on hand to identify a wide range of moths, including Burnished Brass, Flame Shoulder, Snout, Brimstone, Mother of Pearl, Dingy Footman and Poplar Hawk-moth. The children were impressed to learn that there are about 2500 species of moth in the UK alone! To end a fantastic Sleepout, children were free to complete a butterfly trail around the garden.
Whilst the Sleepout may be over for this year, there’s still time to come along to the Big Wild Summer activities at Flatford Wildlife Garden, with the remaining weeks focusing on butterflies (13-19 Aug), owls (20-26 Aug) and minibeasts (27 Aug-4 Sept). Children can pick up an activity bag for £3.50 in the visitor centre and enjoy the activities inside the pack and around the garden.